Israeli football club torched after signing Muslim players

Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.

Photos:Beitar Jerusalem trophy room torched after two Muslim players sign for Israeli club

Beitar count cost – A club official at Beitar Jerusalem cleans up after the arson attack on the club's offices.

Hide Caption

1 of 4

Photos:Beitar Jerusalem trophy room torched after two Muslim players sign for Israeli club

Muslim signings – Dzhabrail Kadaev (left) and Zaur Sadaev were signed on January 26 by Beitar Jerusalem from Chechen side Terek Grozny. Both are Muslims.

Hide Caption

2 of 4

Photos:Beitar Jerusalem trophy room torched after two Muslim players sign for Israeli club

Intolerant fans – Beitar Jerusalem fans display a banner reading "Beitar -- pure forever" at a match on January 26 after their signing of two Muslim players.

Hide Caption

3 of 4

Photos:Beitar Jerusalem trophy room torched after two Muslim players sign for Israeli club

Lost history – A club official examines the charred remains of the trophies won by Israeli league side Beitar Jerusalem after an arson attack on its clubhouse.

Hide Caption

4 of 4

Story highlights

Beitar Jerusalem offices are set on fire days after it signed Muslim players

Football club supporters are arrested for making racist remarks

Fans wave a banner at a match that says "Beitar -- pure forever"

No one was injured in the fire, police say

Arsonists attacked the administrative offices of leading Israeli football club Beitar Jerusalem on Friday, police said. The attack occurred just days after the club signed two Muslim players.

No one was injured in the fire, which was discovered around 5 a.m., police said. But the blaze damaged the club's trophy room.

Last Thursday, four club supporters were arrested on charges of making racist chants, apparently directed at the Beitar's newest players, Zaur Sadaev and Dzhabrail Kadaev. They came from Russian League club Terek Grozny, based in Chechnya.

On the same day they were signed, January 26, fans at a Beitar match waved a banner reading "Beitar -- pure forever" and chanted anti-Arab slogans. Four were arrested.

The Israeli Football Association later fined Beitar $15,000 and ordered the club to close the area at the Teddy Kollek Stadium where the club's hardcore supporters usually gather.

Meanwhile, investigators continue to figure out who is behind the arson attack.

"A thorough investigation has been opened by a Special Investigations Unit searching for suspects that fled the scene," police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.